The Challenges of Moving Back to Your Hometown
Like most kids in college, I never intended to move back to my hometown after graduating. Afterall, who wants to go from living in a big city environment with tons to do to back in a small, rural area? However, due to a variety of factors, that’s how things played out.
If you’ve read through this site, chances are you’ve seen me list out a lot of the positives in having things work out the way they did. Living on your own and supporting yourself independently in the big city can be a lot of pressure. When I had the opportunity to come back home and continue to get some things put together, I took it as a blessing. But, that’s not to say that it hasn’t come without its challenges.
Dealing With The “Old You”
When you move to a new location, you give yourself the ability to be a completely new person. Afterall, the people you encounter in your new city know nothing about your past. They just see the person in front of them. This can be very liberating, especially when you’re young and trying to branch out professionally. It takes some of the pressure off, as you really have nothing to prove, and no one to impress. Sometimes it can be very freeing to have a clean slate.
When you move back to your hometown, you partially move back to dealing with the “old you” that you worked so hard to move away from. A lot of this can be brought on from dealing with people that knew the old you, and liked the old you better. Everybody loves you when you’re just a regular average joe, but the minute you start bettering yourself, that’s when everyone steps out of the woodwork to show their dismay. At least when you’re around the wrong kinds of people. When that’s all anyone knows, there’s no past history for people to hold against you.
Not Having As Much To Explore
Having grown up in an area and living there all your life, chances are you have seen and done a lot of what’s available. When you first come back, or even just visit briefly while still away, this can be kind of nice. There is a sense of familiarity and comfort. But, as time goes on, in a way it becomes harder to find new ground to tap into. The beach down the road is the same beach you’ve been going to all your life. The park up the street is still the same park it was 15 years ago. Same paint and all.
When you’re living in a new city, it’s the complete opposite. Everything is new and exciting. Every day is a new adventure, and there is always a new sight to see or new area to explore. Even just on a college campus, chances are you may get familiar and comfortable fairly quickly, but then there are always new buildings, events, and activities to check out.
On a personal level, I am grateful to say that in a lot of ways I have continued to explore and have new experiences, even though I have lived here all my life. I am a big proponent of getting out of your comfort zone to check out new stuff. The only thing is that it’s harder to find that new stuff in an area like the one I live in. Most folks around here are older, and appreciate simplicity, familiarity, and slow pace. For that reason, things around here don’t change often. The store up the street has been up there for 30 years, with the same owners, and in some cases, the same staff. It’s not all bad. But it is a much different vibe than living in the city.
Having Less Opportunity
When you’re living in a big city, a lot of good things can come into your life fairly quickly. You meet a guy out at a bar, he introduces you to another guy, and next thing you know a new job opportunity is available. You go out to a yoga class, you talk with one of the other attendees before class starts, and next thing you know a new relationship prospect has presented itself. You’re out taking a drive one day and you see a new martial arts gym you’d like to give a try.
In smaller areas, there is less opportunity readily available, and you have to work harder to make things happen. High paying jobs aren’t exactly growing on trees. Single women aren’t necessarily walking through the streets. New friends and new people to meet aren’t right next door.
This can be challenging if you went to school and worked hard for a degree. I have read so many examples of people that have had that experience. They go to college, bust their butt to earn an education, and then wind up moving back in with their parents (which is excruciating enough as it is) and picking up a job working in grocery or at a restaurant because there is nothing else available.
In my case, I continue to take it as a positive. I continue to work on my music. I continue to write for this site. And I continue to do as much as I can with what I have. I know the big city isn’t going anywhere. The more I can utilize my resources and make due with what I have, the better set I will be to move back ahead of the game rather than behind and trying to catch up.
Remaining Grateful Through It All
Despite all the challenges listed above, I still continue to remain grateful. Even though I have stayed here back in my hometown a lot longer than I thought I would, it’s all been for the best. In fact, I still continue to look at things as if I’m living in the big city, even though I am in a much smaller area. I still continue to find productive ways to spend my time every day, and I continue to utilize what’s available the best that I can.
I look forward to the day that I can move back away, and move away for good. Whether it be this year, next year, or whenever. Even though where I’m at is a good place to build and grow in the meantime, it’s not where I want to be long term. I know there is a lot more out there for me, and every day I work harder to put myself in that position.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope you enjoyed, and I will see you on the next one.
